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111
with lighting, it was evident that the ballot
box had been stuffed. 54
The city was tense overnight, and
whites sought to keep the peace so as to not
invalidate the election. Blacks, angered at
the preliminary tallies and the intimidation
they had endured, milled about in town,
resulting in a rumor that a mob of blacks
was prepared to attack the Fifth Ward
Rough Riders. In response, white men
moved to protect their families and posted
extra sentries in the neighborhood. The
rumor was false, but groups of white men
remained on the streets, apparently eager for
action. They were calmed by white leaders
who asked that the white men go home and
meet again in the morning for a mass
meeting that had been recently scheduled. 55
Throughout the night, Democrats
were in constant contact by phone and
telegram across the state while they tallied
their votes and assured themselves of
victory. Robert Mason wrote in a letter on
the night of the election that at 10: 50 he had
“ just telephoned downtown as to results and
everything is very encouraging.” Jack Metts
wrote on the ninth that on the night of the
election the men in charge of city
government were “ nowhere” to be seen and
that every man he met on the street was
white and armed with a Winchester and
white handkerchief on his arm. Although
Metts reported no violence, he said that guns
were fired in the city all night after the
election. Rev. J. Allen Kirk, African
American minister of Central Baptist
Church, recalled that “ there was an army of
white citizens mobilized in the old field
back of Tenth Street, on Tuesday night,
54 Contested Election Case, 363.
55 McDuffie, “ Politics in Wilmington,” 688- 70;
McDuffie referenced P. B. Manning to E. S. Tennet,
November 12, 1898 in the Louis T. Moore
Collection, New Hanover County Public Library.
The Manning letter has since disappeared from the
library holdings and McDuffie’s interpretation of its
content must stand.
waiting for signals from the sentinels.” Also
on November 9, a woman named Sallie in
New York received a letter from her mother
that claimed election victory. She wrote that
“ the white man to- day has gained his point,
rule or die.” She also said that blacks were
not allowed across the Fourth Street bridge
into town and that the Wilmington Light
Infantry was out doing patrols without their
uniforms. 56
The day after the election,
Wilmingtonians breathed a sigh of relief.
Chief of Police Melton noted that the day
was fairly quiet. 57 Most white residents
expected trouble during the election, and,
after none materialized and the Democrats
had secured victory, many felt the tensions
would dissipate. Indeed, Jane Cronly noted
that the day after the election, she “ heard the
colored people going by to their work
talking cheerfully together as had not been
the case for many days.” 58
November 9:
Mass Meeting of White Citizens
Despite some indications that calm
would prevail, some white leaders in
Wilmington were still at work.
Conceivably, the official Democratic Party
leaders such as George Rountree who were
not privy to the machinations of the Secret
56 Robert Mason to Bess, November 8, 1898, John
Steele Henderson Papers, University of North
Carolina Library, Chapel Hill; Jack Metts, November
9, 1898, Hinsdale Papers, Duke University Library,
Durham; “ Mother” to Sallie, November 9, 1898,
Parsley Papers, University of North Carolina Library,
Chapel Hill; Kirk, Statement of Facts, 5.
57 Conversely, African American Rev. J. Allen Kirk
noted that “ There was a great Jubilee march” through
the city by about 500 Democrats. The celebration
was seen by Kirk as an effort to “ intimidate and
demoralize” blacks” because the parade through
passed through all of the city’s black neighborhoods,
businesses, churches and halls. Kirk, Statement of
Facts, 8- 9; Contested Election Case, 364.
58 Cronly papers, Duke University Library, Durham.

111
with lighting, it was evident that the ballot
box had been stuffed. 54
The city was tense overnight, and
whites sought to keep the peace so as to not
invalidate the election. Blacks, angered at
the preliminary tallies and the intimidation
they had endured, milled about in town,
resulting in a rumor that a mob of blacks
was prepared to attack the Fifth Ward
Rough Riders. In response, white men
moved to protect their families and posted
extra sentries in the neighborhood. The
rumor was false, but groups of white men
remained on the streets, apparently eager for
action. They were calmed by white leaders
who asked that the white men go home and
meet again in the morning for a mass
meeting that had been recently scheduled. 55
Throughout the night, Democrats
were in constant contact by phone and
telegram across the state while they tallied
their votes and assured themselves of
victory. Robert Mason wrote in a letter on
the night of the election that at 10: 50 he had
“ just telephoned downtown as to results and
everything is very encouraging.” Jack Metts
wrote on the ninth that on the night of the
election the men in charge of city
government were “ nowhere” to be seen and
that every man he met on the street was
white and armed with a Winchester and
white handkerchief on his arm. Although
Metts reported no violence, he said that guns
were fired in the city all night after the
election. Rev. J. Allen Kirk, African
American minister of Central Baptist
Church, recalled that “ there was an army of
white citizens mobilized in the old field
back of Tenth Street, on Tuesday night,
54 Contested Election Case, 363.
55 McDuffie, “ Politics in Wilmington,” 688- 70;
McDuffie referenced P. B. Manning to E. S. Tennet,
November 12, 1898 in the Louis T. Moore
Collection, New Hanover County Public Library.
The Manning letter has since disappeared from the
library holdings and McDuffie’s interpretation of its
content must stand.
waiting for signals from the sentinels.” Also
on November 9, a woman named Sallie in
New York received a letter from her mother
that claimed election victory. She wrote that
“ the white man to- day has gained his point,
rule or die.” She also said that blacks were
not allowed across the Fourth Street bridge
into town and that the Wilmington Light
Infantry was out doing patrols without their
uniforms. 56
The day after the election,
Wilmingtonians breathed a sigh of relief.
Chief of Police Melton noted that the day
was fairly quiet. 57 Most white residents
expected trouble during the election, and,
after none materialized and the Democrats
had secured victory, many felt the tensions
would dissipate. Indeed, Jane Cronly noted
that the day after the election, she “ heard the
colored people going by to their work
talking cheerfully together as had not been
the case for many days.” 58
November 9:
Mass Meeting of White Citizens
Despite some indications that calm
would prevail, some white leaders in
Wilmington were still at work.
Conceivably, the official Democratic Party
leaders such as George Rountree who were
not privy to the machinations of the Secret
56 Robert Mason to Bess, November 8, 1898, John
Steele Henderson Papers, University of North
Carolina Library, Chapel Hill; Jack Metts, November
9, 1898, Hinsdale Papers, Duke University Library,
Durham; “ Mother” to Sallie, November 9, 1898,
Parsley Papers, University of North Carolina Library,
Chapel Hill; Kirk, Statement of Facts, 5.
57 Conversely, African American Rev. J. Allen Kirk
noted that “ There was a great Jubilee march” through
the city by about 500 Democrats. The celebration
was seen by Kirk as an effort to “ intimidate and
demoralize” blacks” because the parade through
passed through all of the city’s black neighborhoods,
businesses, churches and halls. Kirk, Statement of
Facts, 8- 9; Contested Election Case, 364.
58 Cronly papers, Duke University Library, Durham.